Having a Will is one of the most important gifts you can give your loved ones. It’s not only a legal safeguard, but also a way of protecting the people who matter to you. Without a valid Will, your estate is distributed according to the law, which may not reflect your personal wishes. 

An up-to-date Will ensures that your intentions are clear and that your family is provided for. But it can do something more as well: it can carry forward your values and leave a lasting impact in the Western Bay community. That’s why September is recognised as Wills Month across New Zealand. It’s a timely reminder for all of us to review or create our Wills, to make sure they reflect our current circumstances, and to think carefully about the legacy we’d like to leave.

For many people, legacy means more than financial security for family; it also means contributing to a stronger community. Through the Acorn Foundation, you have the opportunity to do both. By including a simple clause in your Will, 'the Acorn Endowment clause', you can provide for your family first and also create a charitable gift that will keep funding local organisations for generations and generations.

When you leave a gift through Acorn, it is invested rather than spent. Your original gift remains intact, while the income it generates is distributed every year to local charities, scholarships, and community organisations. That means your generosity lives on, year after year, in the Western Bay of Plenty.

This September, we’re making it easier than ever to take this step. Acorn has partnered with 15 trusted law firms across the Western Bay of Plenty to support Wills Month. These firms are on hand to help you update or create your Will, and to answer questions about how you can include a gift to Acorn.

Take the next step: Use Wills Month as the moment to put your affairs in order. Talk to one of our partner law firms, update your Will, and consider adding the Acorn clause. It’s a simple action that protects your family and creates a legacy that will continue to make a difference forever.

Get in contact with us to learn more about endowment giving in your Will

Endowment giving is a simple but powerful way to make sure your generosity continues to have an impact long after you’re gone. When you leave a gift in your Will to the Acorn Foundation, your donation isn’t spent, it’s invested in perpetuity as part of a community endowment fund.

That means your original gift stays intact, while the income it generates is granted every year to local charities, scholarships, and community groups. It’s the gift that keeps on giving, forever.

Here’s how it works:

• Invested, not spent – Your original gift stays intact and grows over time.

• Annual impact – Each year, the earnings are distributed to local causes.

• Flexible – You can support specific charities, choose an area of interest like youth or the environment, or leave your gift unrestricted so in the future, Acorn can respond to emerging needs.

• Accessible to everyone – You don’t need to be wealthy. Even small gifts, when combined with others, create a powerful source of support.

Think of it as planting a tree. Your original gift is the seed. It stays rooted, while the growth it produces provides fruit and shade for generations to come.

“I absolutely love the feeling of being able to see what my money is doing and the difference it makes in the community.” – Adrienne Coad